“She sounds like a bitch.”
He chuckled slightly at my revulsion.
“Yes. She was, in more ways than just that. I could hate her—I do hate her—but, if she hadn’t pulled me from my bed in the middle of the night, if she hadn’t forced the Keeper to feed me those visions and Awaken my position as Kaos’ last descendant, you and I would not be having this conversation. In fact, Elyria would look completely different today. Every move that I made from then on out was done with surety and an understanding of how it would impact the future.”
What a responsibility to thrust on a four-year-old.
“So, yes. I hate my mother and her actions. But I’m also grateful for her resolve. Without it, the gods would run amuck, Samyr would control Elyria, and their fucked-up views of Vessels and Mages would have magic nearly eradicated from humanity.”
“I didn’t come here today to talk about my parents,” I blurted, and Alois smiled thinly.
“I’m aware. But”—he swept his hand around—“it’s a conversation that needs to happen. I see the future pathways and all of that.”
I ground my lips together.
If he knows the future so intimately, did he know this conversation would happen? Even worse, was his treatment of me the night of our wedding purposeful?
Alois smiled sadly at me. “I see the understanding in your eyes, the conclusions you’re coming to. Whatever you’re thinking is, sadly, correct.”
“So you know why I’m here, then.”
“Not specifically,” he sighed. “But I know that you eventually need those bands removed”—he nodded to my wrists—“and we’ll need to have a conversation about the fates of your parents.”
I froze.
“They’re alive?” I wasn’t sure how I felt about that; I didn’t want them to die, but their decisions indirectly caused my turmoil and pain.
“See,” Alois said, drawing me from my thoughts. “There’s that conflict. You’re also clearly not ready to have that discussion if you’re internally at war with yourself over their actions.”
I scoffed with a roll of my eyes. Petulant, yes, and maybe my age was showing, but it was evident Alois enjoyed the display of emotion.
“So your bands, then?—”
“I want them off,” I stated firmly. “Now.”
“So demanding. So prickly,” he teased as he eased his head off his hand. “But I cannot do it just yet.”
“But you said—” I started, but Alois held up a palm, cutting off my tirade.
“I did. And you will have them removed. But with failsafes in place. Even now, your emotions are controlling your magic—this entire time, your Destruction has leaked out and twined around your arms, your Creation Magic flickering off and on as well. I even saw—” He stopped himself with a shake of his head, and I wondered what he was going to say.
What else did he see?
“Doesn’t matter. What matters is if I take those cuffs off right now, nothing will remain of my office. If you want them off, I need you to visit Faylinn. Have her give you some sort of rune to control your emotions or temper your magic. Either way, doesn’t matter. But you must havesomethingto prevent the complete annihilation of my army and city. Are we clear?”
I sighed, the skin beneath the thin cuffs itching and demanding relief.
“Yes,” I groused, and Alois nodded his head.
“Wonderful. Once that is done, you may begin at the Academy. I’ve already informed Lex that you’ll be starting classes in short order.”
I raised my brows at his statement.
“Bold of you to assume that,” I stated, and he tapped one finger to his temple.
“Truthsayer, remember?”
I hummed before pushing to a stand, adrenaline rushing as I thought about seeking Faylinn out. “If that is all, husband,” I said derisively.
